We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gaby Garcia-vera. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gaby below.
Gaby , thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
I grew up raised by a single mom, who was the youngest of five, and her sisters—my Tías—a crew of baddies, each one more amazing than the next, and shoutout to my Abuela, who gave me shelter and language by sharing her love of novelas with me. They taught me a lot of important truths. These are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way:
– Unless people have rolled up their sleeves and done the work, their opinion doesn’t get to be the only one that matters.
– We can never fully account for what I like to call “Miami Math”—being in the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the right time.
– Take every shot—we miss 100% of the shots we don’t take.
– Every choice we make changes us. The version of you someone used to know is not the version of you today.
– When people care about you, they’ll say the hard thing, not just the easy thing.
– Above all, let love be the lifeline it’s always meant to be.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Everything is either a flower or a seed, and it is from this belief that I founded Flamboyán Consulting. Flamboyán Consulting exists to support nonprofits and social impact organizations in fostering organizational health, improving communication, and aligning with their mission-driven goals. We are rooted in reimagining what it means to build resilient, equity-centered organizations while also investing in artists as essential partners in this process.
Through consulting, coaching, facilitation, and creative partnerships, we create collaborations and exhibitions that explore Welcoming, Exploration, and the Ethic of Connection. Utilizing the principles of art, justice, and collective transformation, we also help organizations navigate challenges, rebuild when systems falter, and develop sustainable infrastructures.
At Flamboyán Consulting, our work is about more than solving problems; it’s about shaping a deeply connected and just world. By connecting people, resources, and power, we aim to build communities that thrive on equity, creativity, and collective purpose.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
If nothing else, try.
There will always be people ready to tell you all the ways you won’t succeed. But what other people think has nothing to do with whether we try. A dear friend, Hector Machado, once said, “The only thing that beats a fail is a try.” Those words have stayed with me and continue to shape how I approach challenges.
Throwing the Rope Back
In every journey I’ve been on, one thing has become abundantly clear: I can only get so far alone. It’s crucial to find your people and invest in the spaces that fill your cup. But beyond simply being in community, I believe it’s equally important to throw the rope back to others, no matter where they are in their journey.
What does this look like? It means creating spaces where folks can dream together, bounce ideas off each other, and feel supported even when they’re a little battle-worn. For me, one of those spaces has been the Maven Leadership Collective, an ideas lab that builds ecosystems of support for queer and trans social impact leaders of color and allies. Maven provides tools for us to create just communities with greater ease, agency, and belonging.
Exploration
Early in my journey, I grappled with outdated ideas about failure. I often tried new things, but I didn’t always think of them in a functional way. Over time, I learned that exploration and curiosity are the lifelines of creativity and growth.
We may not always achieve the goal, but when we shift our mindset to one that centers experimentation rather than failure, we begin to let go of the limiting beliefs that hold us back. Exploration allows us to open new doors, spark new ideas, and create opportunities we might not have thought possible.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is a mission-driven changemaker—whether an organization or an individual—who values collaboration, creativity, and community. They are deeply committed to creating equitable and resilient systems and are open to exploring innovative solutions, even when the path forward is complex or uncertain.
What makes them stand out is their willingness to embrace partnership and see me not just as a consultant, but as an active collaborator in their journey toward collective transformation. Together, we work to address challenges, spark creativity, and build sustainable, justice-centered change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flamboyanconsulting.com/
- Instagram: @FlamboyanConsulting and @G2EVera
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamboyanconsulting
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flamboyanconsulting or www.linkedin.com/in/g2evera
Image Credits
Photo of me Seated – Photo courtesy of Maven Leadership Collective photographed by Passion Ward
Photo of me with Someone Else – Photo of Gaby Garcia-Vera and Zee Lopez Del Carmen courtesy of Flamboyán Consulting and ZDC Consulting photo taken by Passion Ward
Photo of Crowd – Courtesy of Flamboyán Consulting and ZDC Consulting photo taken by Passion Ward
Artwork – Ace of Cups original artwork by Gaby Garcia-Vera
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
